Public water system record
City of Safford
Serves an area of Graham County, AZ that includes Safford, Thatcher, Cactus Flats and 4 more places · 20,600 people served
Federal records show 2 health-based violations and 33 monitoring/reporting issues for City of Safford in the last ten years, including an unresolved Groundwater Rule violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 2
- Resolved
- 1
- Unresolved
- 1
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 33
Key facts
- City of Safford draws water from 12 wells (1 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use).
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Fluoride, 5.3 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.3 times the limit), 2017.
- Record on file since 1980, with 5 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 4,869 unknown out of 8,939 service lines.
Check whether City of Safford serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
140 | Nov 10, 2024 | Active | No |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 5.3 mg/L, federal limit 4 mg/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
330 | Jan 1, 2017 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Oct 2, 2025 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Sep 22, 2024 | Resolved |
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
RPT
|
Feb 1, 2024 | Resolved |
|
Nitrate
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2024 | Resolved |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Nitrate
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
RPT
|
May 1, 2023 | Resolved |
|
Mercury
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Nickel
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Chromium (total)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Cadmium
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Thallium, Total
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Antimony, Total
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Beryllium, Total
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
CYANIDE
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Selenium
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Barium
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Arsenic
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Chlorine
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2018 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jul 1, 2017 | Resolved |
|
E. coli
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 6, 2016 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Arsenic
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Barium
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Mercury
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Selenium
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Beryllium, Total
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Thallium, Total
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Chromium (total)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Cadmium
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Antimony, Total
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
CYANIDE
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2014 | Resolved |
Full record since 1980
EPA's records for City of Safford go back to 1980. Before October 19, 2016 they list 5 health-based violations (3 resolved, 2 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 343 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2 | 8 |
| 1990s | 1 | 42 |
| 2000s | 2 | 267 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 26 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 1 | 13 |
| 2020s | 1 | 8 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began March 2003, Resolved.
Show all 5 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Mar 1, 2003 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Nov 1, 2000 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Aug 1, 1999 | Resolved |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 1, 1988 | Archived |
|
Fluoride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 28, 1980 | Archived |
What the violations mean
Groundwater Rule
1 incidentThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that the Groundwater Rule requires (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Fluoride
1 incidentFluoride exceeded the federal limit
Excessive fluoride can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis
Where the water comes from
City of Safford draws water from 12 wells (1 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use). 1 other public water system has an emergency connection to City of Safford.
Annual water quality report
City of Safford must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Arizona.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells